Lesley and Sean try to break the record in the Guinness World Records for longest on-screen kiss. / Rick Rowell, ABC

by Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY

by Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY

Episode 3 of The Bachelor kicked off Monday with a gratuitous shot of Sean Lowe's buff bare torso. But, hey, we'll take it.

"This week I have my work cut out for me," says the hunky star. He spends some time on the treadmill pondering which of his 16 dates might be future wife material. "I find myself really digging a lot of women!"

Here's how the episode unfolded:

One-on-one date: Despite Leslie H. desperately hoping she'd have some time with Sean, political consultant Lesley M. lands the first date.

"I have something really special planned for Lesley today," says Sean. They head to the heart of Hollywood and the Guinness World Records Museum. Sean shows her that his dad set a record for driving the 48 contiguous states in the shortest amount of time. So, Sean says, he thought it would be fun for them to try to break a record.

He walks her outside and there's host Chris Harrison, who says they are going to attempt to set a record for the world's longest on-screen kiss.

"I think my body is numb," says Lesley.

They need to smooch for 3:16 to set a new record. The rules: Their lips must touch the entire time.

They start to kiss and the crowd cheers them on. They stay glued together until well after the record is broken. Tough task. "There were moments I forgot there was a crowd watching," Sean says later. "We were just kind of into each other," says Lesley, adding, "I'm ecstatic."

Later, they toast each other on a rooftop lounge. "Here's to the only girl I want to set records with," says Sean.

In random chatting, Lesley tells him she loved high school and was "kind of a nerd." She tells him she loves her family so much that she sometimes will hang out with them over her friends. And, she says, "If I could have the marriage my parents have, it would be a perfect world." Sean says she might find a marriage like that with the guy "sittin' next" to her.

She says, "You make me nervous. You do something to me that doesn't happen very often. And that's a good thing." They do some serious smooching. Then they each say they have started developing "real feelings" for the other person. "I've really been blown away," says Sean. "I couldn't have asked for a better day." He gives her a rose. "It is not every day you find someone so sexy, so smart, so funny," he says.

Group date: A dozen women are picked for a trip to the beach. Kacie, Robyn, Leslie H., Kristy, Catherine, Desiree, Taryn, Amanda, Lindsay, Daniella, Jackie and Tierra all start the day romping with Sean in the sand and the surf.

And then Chris Harrison appears. He explains that they are splitting into two groups to play beach volleyball. The winning team gets to spend the rest of the day and night with Sean. Losers go home.

It's a close game, with all the girls vowing to win because they "need" more time with Sean. In the end, Desiree, Kacie B., Robyn, Amanda, Jackie and Lindsay claim victory.

The winners have a cocktail party and each of the girls tries to steal time with Sean.

Lindsay kisses him.

Desiree tells him she enjoys life. "I enjoy the beauty of life and that's why I'm happy every day." They kiss.

Amanda wants to talk about "something super serious" with Sean. It's that she fits the bill for what he's looking for in a woman. She adds, "If we were to get married, I'd bring such a light, airy, fun atmosphere." While Sean's buying it all, Desiree says, "You are kidding me, girl." She tells the cameras she thinks Amanda is "creepy."

Kacie B. decides she should "say something" about Amanda. Mistake!

"I've been caught between a rock and a hard spot in the house... between Desiree and Amanda," she says to Sean. When Sean asks why Kacie is saying anything to him, she replies, "I have to tell you what's going on." Sean isn't liking it at all, and asks why she is even focusing any attention on it. "I want you to act like Kacie, not this crazy person I'm seeing."

Uh oh. Kacie admits to the cameras she would like to "rewind" the night. "I have screwed up," she confesses, crying.

The rose goes to Lindsay.

One-on-one date: AshLee.

As she waits for Sean, there's a bang in the house. Tierra has fallen down the steps and hit her head. Sean arrives and tries to talk to her. "She's really not responding," he says. An ambulance arrives and medics put a neck brace on her. "I am fine," she insists. "I just want to be left alone." She suddenly sits up and walks away. Sean finds her outside. She smiles at the fact they have some alone time. "Start wearing a helmet from now on," Sean suggests..

AshLee, whose date time is slipping away, gets grumpy. "That's her way to grab attention. ... She thinks it's cute to play the victim."

Finally, AshLee and Sean head to an amusement park, which is closed to the public, empty just for them. Sean says it's "selfish" to have such a fun place all to themselves, so he includes two girls who suffer from chronic illness, in an act of charity with the Starlight Foundation. "It thrills my heart," AshLee tells the cameras, happy that Sean wants to share the date and the place with the girls. They close out the night with a private concert by the Eli Young Band.

AshLee gets emotional and confesses, "It's a great blessing for me to be a part of these girls' lives and to be here with Sean. I'm really lucky."

At the end of the night, the two get some alone time to chat. AshLee says she'd like to have as many children "as my husband and I decide." She also says she'd like to adopt a child. Sean agrees.

"Really?" she says, and goes on to explain she was "abused" in a foster home and adopted at age 6. "Life is hard," she says, but adds that her family has "loved her every single day of my life." She wants to "share that love." Sean hugs her and wipes away tears. He gives her a rose.

She cries to the cameras, "To completely immerse myself into the possibility of loving this man for the rest of my life? It's scary. I really want this."

Cocktail party time: Sean knows that Sarah didn't get one-on-one time, so he arranges for a surprise. Up comes a limo and she fears she is being sent home. Instead, out comes her dog, Leo. "Truly, truly amazing," she says. "I've never felt so cared-for."

Tierra tells him that playing the dating game isn't easy. "It's an emotional roller coaster. It gets to your head," and she complains that she just hasn't had much time with him. Desiree interrupts, leaving Tierra ticked off.

"I want more time with him," Tierra says and grabs him back, leaving Desiree upset.

"Why does Tierra get to talk to him twice?" says Robyn.

"The girls are being ruthless," says Sean, who is stolen away by someone new every two minutes.

"Everyone's chasing after him," says an upset Kristy.

"It's nerve-wracking," says Kacie B.

Rose ceremony time: Leslie M, Lindsay and AshLee have roses. Before Sean hands out any more, he asks to talk to Kacie B. He takes her outside and sends her packing, telling her, "I just know in my heart I think we're better off as friends."